Ribbon-holder for printing-presses.



E. KIRKBRIDE.

RIBBON HOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY14. 1908.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

attomwmo EDMUND KIBJKBBIDE, F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

RIBBON-HOLDER FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

ran-area Mar. so, rare.

Application filed May 14, 1908. Serial No. 432,839.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND KIRKBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Ribbon Holder for Printing- Presses, of

which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to typewriting imitation by printing machines: u

The embodiment of the invention by which I have chosen to illustrate it consists in mounting a ribbon holder therefor so as to operate in connection with the grippers wherebythe ribbon is fed across the platen from side to side in proximity to the gripers.

My invention further consists in applying ink to the ribbon in close time-relation to theprinting from the same and upon the opposite side thereof.

My invention further consists in inking the type with ribbon ink in order that the ribbon may receive ink upon one side thereof' as it imparts ink upon the other side thereof, keeping it constantly inked.

My invention further consists in the location of the lines of type in substantially vertical position and in feeding the ribbon transversely, that is horizontally thereover.

My invention further consists of certain novel constructions and arrangements all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of printing press with the ribbon holder thereon. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of one of the grippers with one of the holders in position thereon. Fig: "3 represents a sectional view on line m-a', Fig. 2. Fig. 4

' represents a partial plan and partial sectional view of the mechanism for moving the ribbon across the platen. Fig. 5 represents a sectional View on line 3 Fig. 4. Fig. 6

represents a plan view of the lower portionof the casing in detached position. Fig. 7 represents a plan view of the upper portion of'the casing in detached position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

' Referring to the drawings :Where typewriting ribbons have been used in connection with printing presses they have been so arranged as to require unnecessary length, to be in the way, and not to beconveniently actuated for feeding urposes, and they expose an undesirable ength or character of sin-Face to the dust and air, resulting in preferably clogging and drying. They do not permit needed side movement without allowing undesirable slackening.

My invention is designed to overcome these defects and while I have shown in the drawings a form which I have found in practice operates successfully, it will be evident that changes may be made therein and other instrumentalities may be em ployecl'which will come within the scope of my invention andI do not therefore desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction ashe'rein shown and described, but desire to make such changes as may be necessary.

Part ofthe-advantage of my invention lies in the attachment of the ribbon'carriers direct to the ip ers or to a art. movy gr P a P able and connected therewith, thus reduc:

ing the exposed ribbon to a minimum, keep abled' to cause the feeding of the ribbon without any additions to the machine proper.

1 designates the frame of a printing press in which is suitahly journaled the drive shaft 2, having the gear 3. thereon, meshing with the large gear 4. carrying the cam groove 5.

6 designates the platen which may be piv; otally supported in the usual manner and is provided with the roller 7 which moves in the cam groove Sand imparts proper movement to the platen. Connected with the platen 6 is the gripper bar 8, journaled therein, to which are secured the grippersQ, one on each side of the platen, said grippers being held in normal position by means of the spring 1.0 and roper movement being imparted to the grippers 9 by means of a gripper bar roller llcontacting with the grippercam 12.

l3 designates a bed, which is pivoted at i l to the frame land which is adapted to be operated at the proper time to move in order to bring the type, which it carries,

the usual inking mechanism though not of.

i 34 so that the lower order that it will always be in place between the type and the platen carrying the paper, it being understood that some suitable means is provided for moving the ribbon across the platen any suitableor predetermined distance for providing a fresh surface for the type. In the form shown in the drawings I mount a bracket 15 upon each of the grippers, which brackets support the lower members 16 of casings, the upper members 17 of which are rigidly connected with the grippers by means of a bar 18. The upper member permits and guides rotatable movement of the lower member. Carried by each ofthe brackets15 upper end of which is held in proper position by an ear 20 connected with the grippers 9, a second rod 21 being suitably supported adjacent the rod 19, for purposes to be hereinafter described. Each of the rods 19 is provided with a ratchet 22.

23 designates a dog which is movable between the guides 24 carried .by the lower member 16 of the casing, said dog having a suitable spring 25 for holding the same in normal position, it being seen that the dog 23 is normally adapted to engage with teeth on the ratchet 22 and that said dog moves with the member 16 of the casing.

26 designates an arm which extends from each of the members 16 and which arms are connected by the cross bar 27, rollers 28 being supported at each end of said cross bar and said rollers 28 being adapted to contact with the platen 6 during the movement thereof.

29 designates an arm carried by the member 16 and against which bears a spring 30, the opposite end of which abuts against a stop 31'which is mounted upon the station- .ar member 17 of the casin Carried b I the upper member 17 in the casing, is a pawl 32 which is so situated as to engage with the teeth of the ratchet 22 in order to prevent improper movement thereof, said pawl being spring actuated, will be seen. 33 designates a guard which is mounted upon the upper member 1'? for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

34C designates a spring which is mounted upon the upper'member- A pin 35 is carrled by the lower member 16 of the casing and is adapted to release the requisite pawl 32 when desired in order that the ribbon may be drawn from this particular spool by thev feeding of the other spool. It will be apparent that the pin 35 will engage with theheel of the pawl. A. pin 36, also carried by :the lower member, co-acts with the spring member can be placed and held in position to cause the ribbon to be 'wound upon one liolder or the other as desired.

is a rod 19, the

' the ratchet 22,

37, in Fig. 3, designates the ribbon which is preferably first wound around the rod 21 and then around both the rods 19 and 21, as

seen in said figure and then across to the opposite holder. 7

The longitudinal axis of the bed which a I make use of in the claims is, of course, that axis of the bed parallel with the greatest dimensionof the bed and passing through the center thereof. And the same is true or the axis of its length, also referred to by me. The lines of type extend in a direction at ri 'ht angles to this longitudinal axis, from a point in proximity to one side of the bed toward the other side thereof and approximately parallel with the ends of the bed. This, as stated, is the relation of parts in my preferred form.

The operation of the device will be apparent: Motion being imparted to the drive shaft 2 ard to the gear 3 the large gear l is rotated,carrying with it a cam 5 which through the medium of the roller 7 imparts suitable movementto the platen (i in order that it be rocked to the proper position for receiving the type. By the movement of the platen (i the gripper cam 12 contacting with the gripper bar roller 11 moves the grippers 9 into proper posit-ion to engage with the sheet on the platen. At the same time the rollers 28 whiehare in the position seen in Fig. 4, will contact with the face of the platen 6 and will be forced over in the direction indicated by the arrows in said figure and the dog 23, to the left or" the figure, is in engagement with the teeth of the rod 19 will be rotated a suitable distance and also prevented tron r return movement by engagement of the pawl with the'ratchet 22.

lit be understood that an arm 26 rotates the, lower member the movement thereof oscillates arm 29 to compress the spring 30, one end of which bears against the stationary stop 81, so that when the parts are ready to return to the position I seen in Fig. 1, the spring 30 returns the memberlG, arm 26 and the dog 23 to their normal position, the latter being again in engagement with teeth on the ratchet- 22-,- ready for the next operation. By this movement it will be understood that the ribbon 37 is wound up step by step upon the rod 19 to the left of Fig. 4 in order that a fresh surface will be presented to the type.

It will be hated that at the right at Figr'i' ribbon may feed 7 l, the dog 23 is so situated as to travel upon the guard 33 so that the rotation of the ratchet 22 is permitted, the pawl being removed from engagement with the teeth by the pin 35 which is moved with the member 16 contacting with the proper end thereof; it being understood that the said pin 35 moves a suitable distance with the lower member 16 of the casing and thus throws out otengagement the pawl 32 permitting the ribbon to unwind. After the ribbon has been wound upon the-rod 19 in the lett of Fig. at and it is desired to rewind it upon. the rod 10 at the right in Fig. l, both of the lower members 16 are rotated by moving bar 27 in orderthat the crossbar 27, rollers 28 and arms 26 will take the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

It will be understood that the pin on the lower casing 16, in the right of Fig. i, is in engagement with the spring 34:, as seen in full lines in said figure, which holds the parts in the position seen therein and when the necessary force has been applied to the casing 16 the pin 36 is forced over the ridge of the spring 34.- and brings the pin 36, in dotted lines in the left hand of Fig. 4, into engagement with the spring 34, so that the part will be held in this other position, it being noted that the pin 35 in the leftof Fig. 4, dotted lines, is then in position to engage with the pawl 32 in order to actuate the latter to permit rotation of the ratchet 22. At the same time the dog 23 in the right of Fig. 4, is removed from its position in 'contact with the guard 33, and is caused to engage with, see dotted lines, one of the teeth on the ratchet 22 while the dog 23, in the left of Fig. i, which previously was in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 22, is now placed in position to slide on the uard 33, as will be seen in dotted lines. &he operation of the parts is, as before described, but the ribbon will now be moved in the opposite direction and will be wound upon the rod 19 at the right of Fig. 5.

From the above it will be understood that the ribbon and ribbon holders are carried applied to the press upon which the device is I to be used and, generally, this inlcing'application to the printing ribbon is suitable for use with any type of printing press which is'making use of a ribbon for the actual printing. It is wholly independent of the in the form is inked by one of the regular inking mechanisms and is then impressed to cause the reproduction of the characters upon the paper through the ribbon. The

pressure of the type against the ribbon in this way applies ink to one side of the identical spot of the ribbon which is printing upon the other side thereof. Adjustment of the quantity of ink applied will maintain a uniform condition of the ribbon in regard to the ink thereof, as a suflicientquantity of ink can be applied to the type to transfer just as much to the ribbon as is withdrawn from it by the printing operation. Theadjustment of the quantity of ink to be applied can readily be effected by means well known in the printing art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claiin'as new and desire ,to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of thecharacter described, a platen, grippers carried thereon, a rotatable ribbon holder supported at each end upon the same one of said grippers, a second rotatable ribbon holder supported at each end upon the second of said grippers, and automatic means for winding the ribbon at intervals upon one holder.

' 2. In a device of the character described, a platen, grippers carried thereby, means for actuating said grippers, ribbon holders carried by said grippers, means whei aby said holders are actuated to move the ribbon a predetermined distance, and means for adusting said movin means, whereby the ribbon will be wound upon one or the other of said holders, depending upon the position of said adjusting means.

3. In a device of the character described, a platen, grippers carried thereby, means for actuating said rippers, rotatable ribbon holders carried y said grippers andap; proximately parallel therewith, ratchets on said holders, dogs engaging with said ratchets, means whereby one or the other of said dogs is thrown out of engagement and means suitably actuated for rotating the. dog in engagement with said ratchet whereby the holder is rotated.

4. In a device of the character described, v

a bed, roller inking mechanism therefor, a platen, supports arranged at the sides of the -platen and movable with the platen, and

also independently thereof, rotatable ribbon holders mounted u on said su ports substantially parallel t erewith, an meansfor causing the movement of the supports and platen to turn one ofsaid holders.

5. In a device of the character described, a bed, roller inking mechanism therefor, a platen, supports arranged at thesides thereof, and movable therewith and also independently thereof, rotatable ribbon holders mounted in said supports substantially parallel therewith and ratchet mechanism for rotating one of said ribbon holders.

6. In a device of the character described, a bed, inking rollers movable thereover, means upon opposite sides of the bed for guiding such movement, a gripper bar, a platen, two supports mounted perpendicularly to the gripper bar, two roll holders, one mounted upon each of said supports, a ribbon passing from one roll holder to the other, and feed mechanism mounted upon the roll holders and engaging with the platen to feed the holders automatically.

7. In a device of the character described, a bed having its longitudinal axis horizontal, type set transversely of the longitudinal axis of the bed, a platen, an inking ribbon, grippers parallel with the lines of type at the time of impression and movable with the platen, roll holders for the ribbon upon the grippers, one upon each gripper, and means also carried by the grippers for automatically moving the ribbon across the line of type.

8. As an attachment for imitating type- Writing upon a printing press,a pair of grippers, bearings upon each gripper, a pair of roll holders each mounted in two bearings upon a single gripper, and a ratchet mechanism carried by the gripper and in part projecting beyond the plane of the gripper and causing rotation of the roll holder by engagement with the platen.

9. As an attachment to a press for the imitation of typewriting, a pair of grippers having bearings at the ends, a roll holder for one gripper fitting in the bearings thereof, a roll holder for the second gripper fitting into the bearings upon this gripper, the roll holders lying substantially parallel with the grippers, and feeding mechanism supported upon the gripper mechanism for feeding one roll holder and projecting beyond the plane of the grippers.

10. In a device of the character described, a bed having the axis of its length in a horizontal plane, type set in lines transversely of the bed, inking rollers, means for operating the inking rollers, a platen, an inking ribhon, roll holders for said inking ribbon, supports for said roll holders perpendicular to the axis of the length of the bed, a gripper bar, and means for feeding the ribbon automatically across the lines of type.

EDMUND KIRKBRIDE. lVitnesses L. H. Mon'rnoss, ALEX. EWALL. 

